A Lesson We Can Learn From St Ephrem the Syrian
St Ephrem was known as one of the great hymn writers of the early church. In what might seem scandalous to many today, his popularity came, in part, from the way he adapted popular music. Music became sacred as it was infused with grace, but it remained attractive to its listeners because it followed the melodious tunes they had come to love and expect. He wrote music which fit the likes and tastes of his time. He shows us how popular tunes, popular lyrics, could be employed by Christians, as long as they were adapted in a way which could also encourage proper worship of God. Of course, there is a danger in doing this: the adaptation has to be done well, because it would be easy to create silly or insipid pastiches. But when done well, a familiar tune, familiar words, can easily attract attention, and inspire a heart-felt response from those singing or listening to the music. And, for one who is already moved by the musical quality behind the hymn, the words employed then easily become a part of the person singing them. St Ephrem’s music helped combat heretical teachings, not by being overly preachy, but by issuing forth a positive vision to counter erroneous claims which were being spread in his time. Today, more than ever, we need people to follow his example, if we want to evangelize the world. If all we offer is a negative criticism of the world, we turn people away, because they do not see what is so great about our faith. We must embrace what is beautiful in the world and use it for the glory of Christ. People will take notice. People will truly see that they have a place with God, because what they desire does not have to lead them away from God.
Comments are closed.
Henry, You just triggered some tunes from my generation such as, Stairway To Heaven, Spirit in the Sky, My Sweet Lord, Let It Be, All You Need Is Love, etc.
Ronald,
Yes, those are popular tunes, and I think Stairway to Heaven would have been the kind of song St Ephrem would have adapted if he were alive today.
Henry, Is it me or do I detect a superior and arrogant attitude with the Catholic apologists I hear on EWTN? Sometimes I just get this sick feeling in response to their snickering laughter when someone disagrees with them.
Ronald,
Though there are some good apologists who do not go that way, in general, I think you are right with apologists (and EWTN). I’m not a fan of many “popular” apologists, and even less of EWTN.
Hi , I’m a long time reader of this blog which I’ve found via the Western Confucian.
This post reminded me of one of my favorite scenes from U2′s 1987 film Rattle and Hum. The band had their hit song “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” arranged and performed with an African American gospel choir which only brought out spiritual themes of the lyrics even more. I also think Jeff Buckley’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” might be another song to rearrange and rewrite as a hymn. The song shows up on quite a few TV show soundtracks as a “spiritual.” It carries a resonant, spiritual quality for younger listeners that say “Stairway to Heaven” or “Let It Be” did in their time.
I do agree though that the adaptation has to be done very well or it will come off very insipidly and will not evoke in people the contemplation of the Holy. This is what I think happens with the contemporary “Praise and Worship” services that I’ve attended with friends over the years in that the shortcomings are that the music, the lyrics and the enviroment are too familiar and do not create a “sacred space” to turn the self towards the worship of God. The ceremony becomes entertainment with a religious theme and not worship.
PS If I recall correctly, I believe Martin Luther based a few of his hymns’ melodies on some of the festival and tavern songs of his time. In the African American tradition, the Rev. Thomas Dorsey wrote a considerable body of the gospel music canon in the 20′s and 30′s which was influenced by the blues, jazz and popular music he played earlier in his musical career.
Walt
Yes, the balance is difficult to be had. Yet, I think it can be done. I don’t think there is anything wrong, in fact, to have a level of entertainment with the songs (because that attracts people), but it should not be the focus or center of the song –worship, obviously, should be. But worship also doesn’t have to be all sour and joyless. The entertainment aspect really brings one closer to what the Beatific Vision itself will be like — we will be entertained in our worship of God. Heaven will not be a bore.
Ehh, I’m not so sure about popular music these days. I say this, being a 20 year old college student who loves himself some Godspeed You! Black Emperor and other post-rock groups.
While some of my music has given me something of a spiritual experience, I would never expect it inside an ecclesiastic setting. I mean, the song “Walk Through Fire” by Mark Seymour I see explicitly in Christological terms, being all about loyalty and love; but if I ever heard it in a church, it would just be out of place. My university, St John’s in Minnesota, has a student orchestra at Mass, and it just sounds awkward, and contributes to the idea that the Mass is “all about us”. I would much rather just have chant, or the traditional music of the Latin Rite, than these bad attempts at being “relevant to the youth”.